Côte d’Ivoire is famous for many things. Among these is the largest cathedral in the world, topping even the size of St.Peter’s Basilica. It is of course also famous for its former Chelsea star, Didier Drogba. The country boasts golden sand coasts which attract over a million tourists yearly.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Cote d’Ivoire are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Nationals of certain African countries enjoy visa-free access whilst all others must obtain a visa either upon arrival, online or in one of the consulates, embassies or missions of Cote d’Ivoire. Visitors who wish to drive in the country must have both their national driving permit and an international driving permit. Drivers must beware that an IDP is only a translation of the original document and does not substitute for the original document. IDP alone can not be used for driving, both driving permits must be with the driver at all times.

Traveling hazards

Unsafe road conditions, unskilled drivers, and poorly maintained and overloaded vehicles create hazardous driving conditions. Speed limits, lane markings, and signals are not respected, and drivers do not yield for pedestrians or bicyclists. Drive defensively, watch out for public transportation vehicles that stop and start without warning, and be especially cautious at intersections because of traffic lights often malfunction. If you drive at night, beware of vehicles without headlights or taillights, and pedestrians and bicycles along the roadside. Abidjan has a poor public transportation system; if you choose to travel by bus despite the risks, the “Express” line is believed to be the safest and most reliable. In Abidjan, taxis are readily available, inexpensive and metered, but poorly maintained and notorious for not respecting the rules of the road. There have been reports of robberies in metered or orange taxis, though widely thought to be the most secure form of public transportation. Communal taxis “woroworo”, used only within the limits of each commune, are not metered and are dangerous. Do not use local vans “Gbaka” because they are frequently involved in accidents.

Environmental hazards

Côte d’Ivoire is quite a large country with a diverse fauna. The African forest elephants are among the largest land animals on earth, second only to the African bush elephant which once was thought to be the same species. These animals are generally not aggressive however their sheer size makes them dangerous as they can easily trample people to death when startled, flip over cars when angered or just break trees as you do. Lions, the apex predators of Africa, can be found in the northern part of the country. These animals are not afraid of people and will attack if such opportunity arises. On average, lions kill 250 people a year. Hippopotamuses are the second largest land mammals on earth. These giants may look docile, however, they are fiercely territorial and will attack anyone including the likes of crocodiles who approach them. They inhabit rivers and wetlands and are known for attacking kayakers etc. These animals are responsible for more deaths across Africa than, crocodiles, elephants, and lions took together. Some of the countries freshwaters are inhabited by, both the Nile and the western African crocodiles. Both of these are capable of fatally attacking a person. These animals are generally nocturnal however attacks also happen during the day. There are several venomous snakes found in the country. Among the most dangerous are the gaboon viper and the puff adder. There are no recorded shark attacks off the Ivory Coast. Such attacks, however, cannot be ruled out as there have been reports in the surrounding countries.
Floods and landslides are the two most commonly occurring natural disasters. Floods, however, are responsible for most damage and carry the biggest death tolls. Landslides are also capable of easily causing damage or completely destroying property as well as claim lives.

Health hazards

Yellow fever vaccination is required from all visitors. Proof of vaccination is also required. Apart from the yellow fever vaccine, there are no other required vaccines. There are however several vaccines which are recommended but not required. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, meningitis, typhoid, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccines. Unfortunately, there are no approved vaccinations against Zika and malaria. There are however alternative ways to protect against contracting the diseases. Both Zika and malaria are transmitted through mosquito bites, therefore, using mosquito repellents and mosquito nets is advised. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria which should be available after consulting your local general practitioner. Health standards in Cote d’Ivoire are poor. The country ranks 149 of the 169 countries and territories in the 2010 UNDP Human Development Index, indicating low human development. Over the last decade, as a result of chronic civil conflict, the health care system in Cote d’Ivoire has deteriorated and been unable to meet the basic health needs for the majority of the populace. The state’s capacity to deliver basic social services such as health care and education is paralyzed. There are continual shortages of necessary medical equipment, medicine, and healthcare professionals. There are only an estimated 10 physicians, 60 nurses and 40 hospital beds per 100,000 people. Abidjan features several private-run medical facilities that are adequately equipped but not up to North American or West European treatment quality standards. Pharmacies are well stocked but newer drugs may not be yet available meaning that visitors using prescribed medicine should stock up to have sufficient amount for the duration of their stay.
In case of an emergency dial 185.

Crime

The majority of crimes against foreigners are non-violent, economically-motivated, and opportunistic. The risk of petty crime is often higher in areas of congregation, particularly markets and popular sports/soccer matches. Hotel rooms are occasional targets for theft of belongings. Certain sections of Abidjan continue to experience crimes of opportunity committed by small groups of young men called microbes. The microbes usually operate in the more densely populated neighborhoods, roughing up pedestrians and stealing valuables. Property crime such as burglaries of residences, car theft and violent crime such as carjackings, armed residential and street robberies are also prevalent. Firearms are readily available and circulate freely throughout the country. There continue to be numerous incidents of highway banditry and other violent crimes in the countryside. During the holiday season, there is typically an increase in both violent and opportunistic crimes. Visitors should avoid travel to the Abidjan neighborhoods of Yopougon, Abobo, the Banco Forest, Adjame, and Koumassi and avoid walking across the Charles de Gaulle and the Houphouet Boigny bridges connecting the Plateau and Treichville neighborhoods due to very high crime. There is a risk of terrorism in the country coming from terrorist groups based in the surrounding countries. Police response is often inefficient due to lack of sufficient funds. Possession of any kind of narcotics is a criminal offense.

Summary

Côte d’Ivoire is one of the most popular West African tourist destinations offering a variety of attractions ranging from hiking trips in the lush forests and tall mountains to the beach going and exploring the city life of Abudjia. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://snedai.com/e-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/ivory-coast